The Chalkboard: What Huddersfield must do to find a cutting edge

Huddersfield Town host Bournemouth at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday in what is another crucial fixture in terms of the Terriers’ Premier League survival prospects.

Jan Siewert’s side need to start getting plenty of points on the board quickly if they’re to stand any chance of retaining their top flight status. It is vital, then, that the Yorkshire outfit take the game to the Cherries this weekend.

On the chalkboard

Huddersfield are hardly known for their goalscoring prowess, having only netted 15 times all season – by far the lowest return on any top flight club. If they’re to stand any chance of staying up this season then they have to become more clinical, starting with this weekend’s visit of the Dorset outfit.

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Fortunately, for the hosts, Eddie Howe’s side are far from watertight. The south coast outfit have conceded 54 goals this season – more than any other club outside of the relegation zone, and three more than the Yorkshire team themselves.

Siewert’s men have to find a way to retain their defensive solidity whilst becoming more prolific at the other end of the pitch.

A necessary risk

The Terriers’ strikers have all been misfiring this season. Their current top scorer is in fact centre-back Zanka, with just three league strikes to his name. However, they do have players who can score goals – in midfield.

The likes of Aaron Mooy and Philip Billing have the technical ability to finish chances, however, they rarely advance far enough up the pitch to capitalise on these attributes. At this stage in the season, Huddersfield must, to an extent, throw caution to the wind. 39-cap Australia international Mooy and 22-year-old Dane Billing must be given freedom and encouragement to surge forward into the opposition penalty area regularly.

Mooy’s craft and guile and Billing’s power and physical presence would give Town an extra dimension in attack. They run the risk of getting caught out in the middle of the park by committing these two forward so aggressively, but that’s a necessary gamble at this stage.